Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Farewell Comes Without Warning
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“What rumor?”
Carter questioned Esther, who had just spouted something incomprehensible.
“I heard there was someone well-versed in oils.”
She'd never actually heard such a rumor herself, but Esther knew better than anyone that her words rang true.
Gazing out the window, lost in thought, Esther looked wistful, as if reminiscing about old memories.
The situation back then wasn't much different from now. The Dran Oil they'd boldly imported on a massive gamble had sat unsold for over a month, and the rumors swirling around it were growing increasingly vicious by the day.
We need to come up with some kind of plan. We can't keep hanging onto this.
Talk like that was nonstop inside the merchant group, making it a massive headache for Esther.
On top of that, the oil's shelf life was steadily dwindling—the absolute worst-case scenario.
And that afternoon, while Esther was wandering the merchant group to gauge reactions, she ran into that man.
Pfft, leaving oil like this? What a waste. The smell's off too... Won't last long. Shame, since the quality looks pretty good.
Esther's gaze turned toward the man as he inspected the scent and color with the air of a total pro.
Sensing her stare, he looked up and locked eyes with Esther, who had been watching him.
Hey, miss. You work here?
Well... yeah.
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Esther found herself nodding along.
Who's the idiot in charge here? Importing oil without basic knowledge— no wonder it's gathering dust.
It was hardly a pleasant experience for Esther to have some stranger she'd never met trash-talk her right to her face, so she shot back curtly.
Do you know a way to make this sell well, sir?
Least I could do is make people see its value.
The man perched casually on the display shelf and flashed a sly grin.
If you let me crash here and handle my meals, I could probably help out with that. Whaddya say? Talk to the boss if you're interested.
I'm the one you're talking to.
What?
Ah, Guild Master...!
Just then, a guild member walked in calling for Esther, and the man glanced awkwardly between the two of them. That was Esther and Oilie's first encounter.
When Esther told Carter she planned to recruit Oilie, he rubbed his chin with a reluctant expression.
“You're really going to bring him on board? Offer him fun work and good pay to stick around for a bit?”
“Yes. I hear he's pretty impulsive like that.”
“Even so, there's no guarantee hiring someone new in a situation like this will turn things around. Worst case, we just waste money...”
Carter's concerns weren't overblown at all. In fact, similar objections had cropped up when they'd first let him stay.
But astonishingly, Oilie had silenced all the debate with his skills in one fell swoop.
The bottles for the oil should be a color that doesn't absorb light. Best to wrap 'em in newspaper or something like that.
For this oil, never store it somewhere hot or with fluctuating temps! You know how sensitive oil is to temperature changes?!
His advice was rough around the edges, sure, but no one in the merchant group could deny that following it had improved the product's quality.
Esther had witnessed it all firsthand, so she knew exactly how big a loss it would be to let him go.
That was why she was pushing so hard to convince Carter, who wasn't giving a straight yes.
“If we don't recruit him, we'll regret it forever. I've looked into his skills myself.”
“...”
“He even wrote academic papers. He knows way more than we do—he'd be a huge help.”
She'd learned that fact chatting at the year-end party.
He'd said inheriting his late father's oil craft or pursuing his dream of research was the biggest crossroads of his life.
Then I figured out a way to do both! Pretty cool, right?
Esther closed her eyes, rare tension easing from her shoulders as she could almost hear that boisterous laugh and cheeky wink.
“I'm sure of it, Carter. He's exactly the person we need.”
Yes, Oilie had been just as essential to her as any guild member.
Guild Master, you gotta be more calculating. Too much heart, too trusting. If someone stabs you in the back and you can't pay me, I'm going on strike.
He'd joke around endlessly one moment, then genuinely worry about her future the next, or sternly correct her mistakes.
We stretched the shelf life a few more months, but it's still not as good as back in Inda. Got a decent idea related to that, though. Need to test it out.
Even heading home for experiments was all to help the merchant group—a grateful comrade through and through.
I'll be back. Keep the place running smooth, and hire me again when I do.
But Esther hadn't been able to keep her promise to the comrade who'd asked her to trust and wait for him.
Endless accidents, the threat of bankruptcy, and Oilie's unexplained radio silence.
In the midst of it all, the man she'd loved abandoned her at the worst possible time, and even her most trusted friend toyed with her heart.
In the end, death was the only choice left to Esther.
“...I couldn't even keep that promise.”
“Pardon?”
Carter sought clarification on Esther's cryptic words, but she just shook her head silently.
Her expression was so grave that pressing for details felt awkward, so Carter quickly changed the subject.
“Anyway, we'll track him down and talk. I'll send someone...”
“No. I was thinking I'd go myself.”
“When you're this swamped? Carving out time for a personal visit? Maybe you should rest a bit instead?”
But this time, she couldn't heed Carter's dissuasion.
To Esther—who hadn't kept her promise to Oilie, who'd poured his heart into the merchant group—this was the bare minimum courtesy. She wanted to meet him and make it clear this time.
That she'd definitely keep her promise to him. That she wouldn't let the merchant group fall into ruin like that.
“Yes, it's only polite. And wouldn't it feel more sincere and solid if the Guild Master went in person?”
She couldn't bring herself to tell Carter about any of that, so Esther brushed it off to his wide-eyed stare.
“Besides, I have a rough idea where he might be. Better to move fast, right? A talent like that—plenty of people must be after him.”
“You even investigated his location? During all this chaos? If he's that impressive, now I'm curious too.”
“I can already look forward to working with him.”
Esther played dumb and tossed Carter's words back at him.
Of course, even without prior knowledge, he'd been a comrade precious enough to warrant that investment of time—and remarkably talented to boot. Plus, Esther was confident she could shorten the time to reunite with him.
Don't let this rugged look fool ya—I'm a guy who's earned respect through skill! I make my own living wherever I go! Last place was Rolli's Brerer Merchant Group! Pretty capable, huh? Landed the job right after arriving in the village—interview and all. Oh yeah, speaking of, the ale at that tavern nearby is...
She couldn't forget Oilie's blissful face whenever booze came up, and who knew it'd come in handy now.
Perfect timing too—he'd just arrived in the village.
Esther's lips curved up as she pictured reuniting with her old comrade.
In the end, Esther's decision was spot on. Her booze-loving comrade, a regular at the local tavern, was pounding drinks that very evening.
Esther slid into the seat across from Oilie, whom she'd tracked down faster than expected, and bewilderment crossed his face.
“You got business with me?”
After a brief fluster, Oilie now eyed her warily, his gaze sharpening as he asked. Esther had anticipated the reaction and smiled softly, unperturbed.
If anything, that smile flustered him even more.
She sat there so casually, like an old friend, that Oilie cautiously added,
“We know each other or something? But I just got to this village yesterday, so maybe I'm seeing things.”
“No. You're definitely the one I came looking for.”
“What? What're you talking about? How do you even know me? I don't know you.”
Esther gathered herself at Oilie's baffled retort.
She reflected on her impulsiveness—too excited to see him again after so long—and schooled her expression.
Of course the current Oilie didn't know her. Of course he'd be on guard, staring like she was some weirdo. But the bitterness and disappointment still stung.
“You alright?”
“Ah, yes. Sorry, I should have introduced myself first. I just got so eager to meet someone I've been dying to see.”
“You wanted to meet me?”
“Yes. Allow me to introduce myself.”
Sentiment could wait. Even as she spoke, Esther extended her hand toward her longtime comrade, who hadn't let go of his beer mug.
“Pleased to meet you, Mr. Oilie. I'm Esther Elpis, Guild Master of the Elpis Merchant Group from the neighboring village of Rabon. I came to make you a proposal.”
“You—the Guild Master? And so young?”
Oilie sounded purely astonished as he asked again, prompting a small smile from Esther.
His wide-eyed blinking matched exactly how he'd reacted last time, when she'd revealed she was the Guild Master.
“Yes, that's me. If you don't believe me, feel free to stop by later.”
“Nah, no need. Don't have time to spare anyway. So, what's your pitch?”
“Straight to business, then. Are you looking for work?”
“Work?”
He'd said he'd worked for a local merchant group. But Esther had no intention of letting them snag him. That's why she'd waited so long for the day he'd arrive here.
“Why do you ask?”
“Because I want to bring you to our merchant group.”
“What?”
“Mr. Oilie, I've read your papers.”
“You read my papers?”
“Yes. And I know you're the exact talent we need. I know you're job hunting right now, and since you're here, I came straight away.”
“Not some stalker digging into people's info, are ya?”
Oilie sniped at her, clearly irked that she knew things he hadn't shared.
“Get lost. I ain't working with someone who gives me the creeps.”